The House of Representatives is poised to
give final passage Wednesday to legislation that would sanction
Chinese officials for human rights abuses against Muslim
minorities, the latest in a series of moves by Congress and the
White House to put pressure on the Beijing government.
The measure was approved by unanimous consent in the Senate
earlier this month, and it has broad support in the House amid
rising criticism of China over trade, its handling of the
initial coronavirus outbreak and its attempts to put down anti-
government protests in Hong Kong.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday declined to say whether
he would sign the legislation if it passed the House, saying it
was being reviewed at the White House.
“We’re taking a look at it very strongly,” he told
reporters.
China has threatened retaliation over efforts in the U.S.
to exert pressure over human rights issues. The House vote comes
as relations between the world’s two biggest economies are at a
low point.
The administration is separately considering possible
penalties against Chinese officials, businesses and financial
institutions if the authorities crack down on dissent in Hong
Kong with a new national security law. Reports of new steps
against China curbed a rally in equity markets, sending the S&P
500 to session lows in the final half hour of trading on
Tuesday. Chipmakers and megacap tech firms that have large
dealings with China bore the brunt of the selling.
(Bloomberg)